After almost four months without football, and longing for his beloved Arabic coffee, Bafetimbi Gomis is delighted to be back in Saudi Arabia. The Al Hilal striker arrived in the kingdom last week having spent the majority of the competitive downtime at his home in Lyon, France, eager for the news that it was safe to return to the pitch. The <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/al-hilal-players-volunteer-50-per-cent-salary-cut-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-1.1005334">Saudi Pro League was halted in March</a> because of the coronavirus pandemic, meaning Hilal's lead at the summit - six points ahead of champions Al Nassr with eight matches remaining - maintains. Gomis is Hilal’s head frontman, one of the region’s most prominent stars too, so he will be expected to help fire the Asian titleholders to the league crown once the competition returns next month. There will be no room for breaking themselves in gently: Hilal begin with a crunch clash at second-placed Nassr on August 5. But for Gomis, it’s just great to be back. He resumed training with his Hilal teammates this week and now, with quarantine complete and that uncomfortable Covid-19 test he charted on social media negotiated, he is looking forward. At times during the past few months, this point felt a long way away. "I'm missing football so much as it's a big part of my life and my whole routine is based around football," Gomis tells <em>The National</em>. "The time that I wake up, when I eat, to when I spend time with my family – everything revolves around that. Scoring goals, the atmosphere of the stadium, the supporters, I miss it all." Still, Gomis arrived in the kingdom in good shape. An adidas ambassador, the Frenchman has championed the company’s "Ready for Sport" campaign, which encourages its athletes to stay prepared for their return to action. Gomis may have been thousands of kilometres away in France since April, but he kept a strict training regime. And, even as his 35th birthday fast approaches, he’s determined to hit the ground running, as it were, come the Pro League’s restart. “I invested in some sports equipment, such as a training bike and treadmill and I’ve been working out daily with personal routines and training sessions set by the club,” Gomis says. “I have a personal trainer and it’s very important to keep in shape and fit, so that when we return we can continue to fight for the title.” Despite missing the game and his colleagues, Gomis made the most of the period away from football by enjoying quality time with his wife and two young children. Given life as a professional footballer brings its own routine, it is something the former Lyon, Swansea City, Marseille and Galatasaray forward embraced. “It’s been difficult, but the best thing about this moment is being able to spend time with my family to be closer with my kids,” Gomis says. “Normally I don’t get this much time to spend with the family, so for that reason it’s been nice.” Saying that, he’s fully concentrated on getting the season going again. Hilal chase both domestic and continental honours, as they look to land a record-extending 16th top-flight title and at the same time become the first club to successfully defend the Champions League since compatriots Al Ittihad did so in 2005. Last year, Gomis top-scored in Asia with 11 goals, as <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/saudi-arabia-s-al-hilal-win-asian-champions-league-with-victory-over-urawa-red-diamonds-1.941896">Hilal were crowned continental champions</a> for the first time in 19 years. Add soon to his 14 goals in 21 Pro League matches, and the three in two thus far in Asia this year, and the self-styled “Lion” will be on the prowl again. “I’m very excited to be back to the club, to see all my friends, the staff and my teammates again,” Gomis says. “I can’t wait to get back on the field again, score some goals. And with that of course comes the lion celebration." He adds with a laugh: "I’m also looking forward to the gahwa.”
